Ban regrets cancellation of ASEAN summit in Thailand

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon regretted the postponement of the ASEAN summit in Thailand on Saturday due to opposition's protest but hoped to "engage" with the world leaders in the "near future".

The summit, which Ban was to attend, was postponed following hundreds of protesters breaking through police cordon and swarming the meeting's site leading to evacuation of some ASEAN leaders who had already arrived to a military base.

"While I had hoped to have exchanges with the leaders of ASEAN and its dialogue partners, I continue to look forward to engaging again with them in the near future," Ban said.

He said he strongly values the "long-standing relationship" between ASEAN and the United Nations and their cooperation in various fields.

"I hope for an early restoration of normalcy in Thailand and for the settlement of differences through dialogue and peaceful means," he added.

Thailand'd Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of emergency in the resort of Pattaya after thousands of demonstrators stormed the summit. The summit was supposed to focus on the financial crisis and North Korea's rocket launch.

Choppers airlifted dignitaries from the roof of the luxury hotel venue after the red-shirted supporters of ousted Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra breached police lines, broke down glass doors and stormed into the building unopposed.